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Chapter 4

"What the fuck do you mean by keeping a woman locked up in this house?" Alice hissed at her brother. She wasn't a fool; she'd discovered long ago their family's ties to the mob. When you were in high school, it was a little hard to ignore the whispers behind one's back or the sidelong glances thrown in her direction.

Even while their family wasn't always on the up and up, they'd never brought their affairs directly home before. Now, Alice faced Edward with wide eyes as the truth sank in.

Of course, having a prisoner wasn't a new occurrence, yet having one housed in their home was an entirely new phenomenon. When her brother didn't seem keen on answering the question, her perfectly arched eyebrow lifted. "Are you going to answer me or what?"

"Or what?" Edward snapped back with a sharp look. "Since when do I have to answer to anyone in this house? Are you going to overthrow me and start making the decisions around here?"

Edward couldn't express how infuriating it was to have every single decision scrutinized … decisions he made to ensure his family's protection and financial security.

Edward's nostrils flared with annoyance, his hands running through his hair. His jaw clenching and unclenching, he growled as he threw a glance around the kitchen, mumbling wearily, "This is the shit I have to put up with every time I step foot out of my office. One day, I might lock myself in there and throw away the fucking key, but not before that girl shuts up. Think she finally lost her damn voice. Thank fuck."

"What do you expect, Edward? Huh?" Alice fumed as she studied her brother. "You have a girl locked in a room and are refusing to let her go. How does that even seem rational to you?"

"You know, Alice, it could be worse. I could've taken her to some dank basement and kept her tied to a fucking chair. How would that be?" Edward asked, slapping the countertop. "I came out here for a fucking apple, and all you do is bitch. That fucker Swan owes a lot of money to this family. How do you propose I get it? Huh? You know, I could call him very politely and ask him for it, but I'm pretty sure he'd tell me to go fuck myself."

"I am just saying keeping a woman captive is a harsh penalty. She didn't do anything, right?" Alice studied Edward with worry in her eyes. She'd known her brother was slipping after Irene died. She'd watched him sink further and further inside of himself. Alice never would've guessed he would stoop to this level. "You need to let her go. If you don't I …"

Edward's lashes fell into a glare, and his lip curled as he bared his teeth. "Go on, go up there and try to let her go. I will put you in the room right next to her." When Alice flinched under the weight of his gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line. "This is a temporary arrangement. As soon as her father forks over the loot, she is free as a fucking sparrow, but until then, she stays right here."

When Alice remained quiet, he continued, "I am not beating her. I'm not going to unless she doesn't shut the hell up, then I might be tempted. She's in a room safe and fucking sound. She's being treated a helluva lot better than any other prisoner I have ever seen. Great food, bed, bathroom, a room fit for a king or what's left of it, anyway. The woman has destroyed everything in there, I'm assuming."

As if his confrontation with Alice wasn't bad enough, Emmett came strolling into the kitchen with the tray he'd taken to Isabella the night before. The plates and cup were in pieces on the shining silver. "She threw the whole mess into the wall last night. There's gravy all over the wall, but I found the core of the appIe I put on the tray. So, I suppose at least she got some nutrition."

"Well, if she wants to starve herself," Edward shrugged as if it were of no consequence to him—which it wasn't. Noticing Emmett shake his head in disbelief, Edward growled, "What? If she refuses to eat, what do you want me to do about it? I mean, if you want, I can force-feed her, but then I might get labeled an animal."

Edward bit the apple he finally managed to retrieve from the basket. He was mid-chew when his mother came into the kitchen with Lily following close behind. Rolling his eyes heavenward, he mumbled under his breath. "A family reunion … wonderful."

"Edward, while you are among the living," Esme started lifting a handful of files in the air to capture her son's attention. The only thing Edward seemed to take seriously nowadays was family business.

Since Irene died during childbirth, he no longer attempted to get close to anyone. It was troubling how he kept to himself, never allowing anyone close anymore, especially not Lily.

The thought of her granddaughter caused a familiar pang near Esme's heart. The sweet innocent baby was being blamed for something she'd never had any control of, and it killed Esme to watch. With thoughts of Lily, she shoved the files in Edward's direction. "These were possible candidates for homeschooling. While this will help, it is not a permanent solution. She needs to be with children her age and learn to interact with other people."

Acid burned Edward's nostrils as his gaze landed on his daughter. A huge part of him wanted to wrap that girl in his arms and never let go. He wanted to smell her hair and feel her tiny arms wound around his neck. Yet … yet … he remained frozen to the floor beneath his feet.

As much as he wanted to embrace his child, the bigger part, the part he would never admit to a living soul, was scared shitless. The two people in the world he'd cared for more than anyone else had been taken from him. What if Edward let himself get attached to that beautiful little girl, and she was ripped from his arms? The mere thought was too much to contemplate.

The apple slid down his throat before he'd adequately chewed the chunk, and he nearly choked as he reached for the files. "I will look through them and see what fits. You can use the carriage house for lessons. I don't want anyone in this house at the moment."

"What about her socialization, Edward? It's important for her development," Esme tried as Edward made a hasty retreat from the kitchen. "Edward!"

"Later," Edward stated, hurrying to his office. He'd had enough family time for one afternoon. There was nothing like being bombarded by everyone in the household about completely different shit, yet all of them telling him how big of a failure he'd turned out to be. Walking into his office, he slammed the door in his wake and locked it.

No sooner than his ass hit the chair then his phone trilled. Seeing Charlie's number took him completely off guard, yet he didn't hesitate as he answered. "I hope you are calling to tell me that you have my money. Otherwise, you are wasting your time and breath."

"Actually, I will have it by the end of the month, Cullen. I do have a requirement, however. I want my daughter untouched. I mean it. Keep your men away from her."

"You are in no position to be placing demands on me, Swan." Edward's temples throbbed with annoyance as his nostrils flared. "I don't know what you are implying but I don't condone rape, and I have no interest in your daughter, whatsoever. Just get me the funds and quit stalling. Or I might just start mailing you pieces of her."

"I need her whole, Cullen. The mayor insists she be pure or he won't pay … and he says, he needs some time to get the money."

"You are unbelievable," Edward mumbled, not sure why it should bother him that the man would resort to selling his daughter. His blue gaze rolled to the ceiling as a thump sounded from upstairs. He couldn't even fathom what could be making that clanging noise but Edward pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve the pounding that had started in his temple. "What lowlife scum sells his daughter to repay a debt? How low will you go, Swan?"

"Just keep her intact, and that means her virginity as well. She is pure, Cullen … don't …"

"Fuck off," Edward growled, hanging up on the prick. His stomach rolled as he considered Isabella's lot in this life. She was being sold like a broodmare and the thought sickened him. When he lifted the apple he held to his lips, his gut revolted at the prospect of consuming the fruit, and he tossed it toward the waste can.

When the clanging persisted in the room above him, Edward shoved to his feet. If he didn't get the hell out of here for a while, he might go up there and choke her. He'd never seen a person with more determination to piss him off. Most people were cowardly like mice, not the girl upstairs, she seemed adamant and braver than anyone else he knew. At least he could say one thing about her, she certainly wasn't going quietly.

Letting himself out of the study, he passed the foyer, spotting Lily lingering near the bottom of the stairs. Willing his tone to comply with his brain, Edward stalled in the hallway. "L-l-lily! Go find your grandmother."

Her slight form jumped in surprise as she whirled around to face him. Startled by the appearance of her father, Lily's mouth gaped open. "I-I w-was jus' playin'."

"Just go play somewhere else," Edward snapped, his eyelids closing as the little girl raced away from him in the opposite direction with a whimper. Aggravation getting the better of him, he mumbled, "Fuck my life."

As the clanging increased, growing louder and more insistent, Edward glared up at the ceiling. With each clang, he felt his blood pressure rise, and before he could stop himself, he turned toward the stairs. Edward moved faster than he ever had, mounting them two at a time until he was standing before the bedroom door.

Yanking the key from his pocket, he unlocked it, coming to stand at the threshold. Edward threw the door open wide, and stomped into the room.

With a quick glance around, his eyes came to rest on the woman causing the disturbance. "If you don't stop that insistent banging … I'm gonna tie your ass back up."

Bella's head jerked around to find Edward standing in the doorway as the door slammed into the wall. He was fierce. Edward's nostrils flared like a raging bull, his complexion a few shades darker than normal. Obviously, he wasn't as immune to her caterwauling as she'd started to think. What he was, however, was one pissed-off King.

Through wide eyes, Bella's gaze slipped over his trim frame. He was so different from what she remembered years ago. The man standing before her now, while angered to the point of no return, was not the same guy she'd seen outside her school. His hair was several shades darker, and the ends grazed his sharp cheekbones. Edward was thinner and meaner. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes, and Bella had to wonder what had caused them. Even while he looked like he just might fucking snap, she lifted her head. She supposed that's what happened when a man had turned into a cold killer.

Bella lifted her chin as she came face to face with the King, her lashes dropping into a glare. Meeting his dark blue eyes, Bella's lips pinched together as she regarded him. With the audacity of a true tyrant, she lifted the soap dish and slapped it against the window.

Boldly, she lifted her chin in a stubborn angle. "I'm not scared of you. You might cause all these people in Kennett to bow to your ass, but I'm not one of them. You can go fu—."

As she spoke, Edward's hands balled into fists, and he took a few steps in her direction. Despite her unwavering protest about not fearing him, he saw the way her lashes fluttered as he marched closer. "We can fix that. I'm not opposed to cutting those digits off one by one. So, keep testing me."

The woman before him didn't even blink as she lifted the soap dish and slammed it against the window again. Edward wasn't sure if it was her courage or defiance, but her actions were beyond intriguing. There were grown men that shook in his presence, yet this mere slip of a woman stared him in the eye without so much as a flutter of her lashes. Stubbornly, she said with a slight tremor in her voice. "I stand by my earlier statement. You don't scare me, and you can go fuck yourself."

"I need her whole, Cullen. The mayor insists she be pure or he won't pay … and he says, he needs some time to get the money."

The words echoed in Edward's ear as he glared down at the minx before him. Meeting her sapphire gaze, he stomped closer until she recoiled against the window. Edward leaned forward until he was nose to nose with her. Without breaking stride, he snatched the soap dish from her fingers. "I said to fucking stop. If I have to come back up here, I will hog-tie you, stuff a gag in your mouth, and put you in that closet over there."

Bella couldn't help when she looked in the direction he pointed. His face was nearly cherry red, the vein in the center of his forehead pulsing. The hard edge in his eyes spoke volumes about the sincerity in his words. "Why are you keeping me here? Just tell me why …"

Edward didn't answer as he pivoted on his heel and strode from the room. Bella jumped as the door slammed in place, and she took a deep calming breath. Determining she'd rattled enough cages, for the time being, her knees trembled as she crossed the room to the bed. She wished she hadn't refused breakfast this morning.

The giant animal that had brought her the food didn't even leave the tray. He'd asked only once if she was through with her tantrums. When Bella had lifted her chin with the same defiance she'd shown Edward, he'd shaken his head and retreated, taking breakfast with him. Now, she was severely regretting her choices as her stomach gave an involuntary flip.

Her fingers tapped on her leg as she considered her next move. She didn't have many options left at this point. Bella sat cross-legged on the bed as she scanned the room she'd destroyed the day before. Glass was shattered in every direction, and she supposed if she didn't want to cut her toe off, she should pick it up. Slowly, she climbed to her feet and headed to the bathroom.

Retrieving the waste can, she came back inside, and piece by piece, she picked up and tossed them. Once the glass was thoroughly cleaned up, minus the shards lying in the carpet, she rounded the room, picking up books and stacking them back on the shelf. Growing curious about what the room held, she pulled the drawers open, finding the pairs of pants and an equal amount of T-shirts inside.

As she studied the clothing, Bella's gaze went to the door. Had Edward or rather someone else put these here for her use? Of course, it wasn't Edward, she thought to herself. The man was a prig and probably never lifted a finger to do anything. "Spoiled asshole," she mumbled.

Edward Cullen was very different from the man she'd seen years ago. He'd been happier back then, she speculated they all had, but there was a visible difference to the man. Yes, he'd grown up as a child of a mob family, his father had been King here in Kennett and was speculated to have ties all the way to Chicago, so obviously, Edward would be distant and perhaps, even cold.

Or could it be the rumor flying around Kennett? About five years ago, his wife died abruptly. There had been several wild theories about what happened to the late Mrs. Cullen. Could they be true? Had Edward murdered his wife? From what she just witnessed, it could be entirely possible. Just the thought made her shiver, her gaze flying to the door.

Another tremor shook Bella as she considered the possibility. While the mob boss was already terrifying, the speculation just made her fear ten times worse. If the man would kill his wife … What the hell was stopping him from killing her?

Bella gulped. She had literally flaunted her bravery in his face like a damn fool. He'd done nothing, however. What's the likelihood of those rumors having an ounce of truth?

She would've dismissed the idea and resumed her efforts to clean when a scratching sounded on the other side of her bedroom door. Bella's head tipped as she listened closely for the noise again, yet all went silent. Just as she gathered the books in her arms the scratches started all over.

Quietly, she laid the books down and wandered closer to the door. "Hello? Is someone there?"

When no answer came, Bella hesitated by the door, pressing her ear against it. "Hello?"

The scratching stopped and no answer came. What the hell was going on? Maybe it was some sort of animal, she decided. A dog or a cat? Huh. Who would've thought Edward Cullen would have a dog or cat?

She was about to turn away from the door when she heard. "Hi."

Perhaps she was hallucinating from hunger, or maybe she'd just gone completely crazy. Bella cocked her head as she listened closely. It sounded like a child. Did Edward have a child? "Hi. Who am I talking to?"

"Are you the fairy princess?" Lily wanted to know, whispering as loud as she could without being heard. Sitting down on her knees before the door, she traced the lines before her.

Was she the fairy princess? Bella inwardly laughed, she was far, far from a fairy princess. She must be talking to a little girl, a boy wouldn't even have princess in his vocabulary. What if she told the girl she wasn't a princess and she ran off? Not wanting to risk it and not wanting to lie, Bella sat next to the door. "Maybe. Who are you?"

"I am Lily. Did you know I have a pony? His name is Sage. Do you like ponies?" Lily asked, throwing a glance toward the stairs. Luckily, Nana was busy working and wasn't paying attention to where Lily had gone.

"Yes," Bella told her. Lily. Lily. Did Edward have a child? She'd never heard about him having a kid. "I love ponies. What color is he?"

"He is white with long hair. He's so cute. I wish I could show him to you, Fairy Princess. I think you would really like him."

"I bet I would," Bella agreed, gathering her hair, she pulled the lengths over her shoulder as she contemplated what to say. "How old are you, Lily?"

"I'm almost five. How old are you, Fairy Princess? Are you pretty? Of course, you are pretty. All princesses are pretty. What do you look like?"

An inquisitive five-year-old little girl, Bella smiled faintly at the door. "Wow, you are getting old. I have light hair and blue eyes." While Bella answered Lily's questions, she formulated some of her own. "Where are your parents? Do they know you are talking to me?"

"My dad is at the stables and he doesn't know I am talkin' to you. He said we weren't allowed to talk to you, but I wanted to know if your prince was coming soon. Is he? Do you have a prince somewhere?"

Bella wished she had a prince somewhere. Thoughts of the mayor caused her to cringe. Even if Winthrop came to rescue her, Bella didn't think she would go. "I don't know. I haven't seen my prince in a very long time, but maybe he is out there somewhere. Who is your dad?"

Disappointment slid through Lily as she studied the door. "Well, if you had a prince I would get him for you. My dad is a monster. He doesn't like anything. What is your name, Fairy Princess?"

"I'm Isabella, but my friends call me Bella. I consider you a friend so you can call me Bella." Bella thought over what Lily said. How sad it must be to have a father who was so angry and disconnected that their child considered them a monster. Of course, Bella understood completely. Her father was a tyrant, and there was no love between them. The thought reminded Bella how lonely and sad she'd grown up, and immediately she felt bad for the child. "Lily, will you be my friend?"

"Oh yes," Lily whispered in agreement. "I have never had a friend before. I wish you could come out and play with me. Do you like Barbies? Nana buys me all the Barbies."

Bella's heart pinched in her chest at the loneliness she heard in Lily's voice. Something within her wanted to reach through the door and hug the child. Instead, Bella rested her head against the door. "I love Barbies. I never had any growing up though. My dad never bought me any."

"Didn't you have a nana to buy you Barbies?"

"Nope," Bella mumbled, thinking back on her own childhood. "It was just me and my dad."

"Where is your mom?"

"She ran away. Where is your mom, Lily?" Bella listened intently as the girl told her, her mother had died. "I'm sorry, honey." Hearing the sadness in Lily's voice, Bella sought a topic to cheer the little girl up. "Tell me about your Barbies. Which ones do you have?

Bella talked to Lily forever. Laying her head against the door, they went from one topic to the next as if they were old friends. As the sunlight began to wane, Lily whispered frantically she had to go to supper. Bella listened as the girl scrambled away from the door. Shortly after Bella rose to her feet, she heard the footsteps of someone approaching the room, and so she hurried away from the door.

This time when the giant appeared holding a tray of food, she wandered close as the allure of chicken tickled her senses.

"Are you ready to chill and get some grub?" Emmett wanted to know, holding the tray up in an offering. "Pretty sure you have to be starving at this point."

Bella merely nodded. There was no way on this earth she would beg for that food, but she couldn't bring herself to deny her baser urges either. Relief flooded her when he sat the tray on the dresser and left her in peace. Once the door closed and she heard the lock click in place, Bella hurried to the tray to find chicken breasts stuffed with mozzarella and spinach, roasted potatoes, and asparagus.

As she stuffed the first bite of chicken between her teeth, her eyes closed as she savored the taste. "Pure heaven."

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